1. A Year to End Hunger: Ending the Politics behind World Hunger
By: Simi Atolagbe, MPA
University of Memphis
Spring 2010
A manmade disease called hunger Why people are still hungry in the 21st
continues to kill millions of children and Century?
adults, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and
grandfathers in both developed and The dilemma behind hunger is the politics
underdeveloped nations such as the United behind creating a feasible solution in ending
States, Africa, India and China. We have been the number (one) killer of the human race.
told that there are no solutions. Currently, we This deadly disease (hunger) is not caused by
live in the year 2010, and still continue to walk the lack of food or the lack of means to
away instead of standing up to resolve this distribute food. There is enough food grown to
problem. We have forgotten all of the great feed the mouths of every living being. But
works and wonders that we have because of corruptions, lack of motivation,
accomplished. When we needed lack of inspiration or lack of responsibility for
transportation, did we not invent? When we the human being, the majority has turned our
needed communication, did we not innovate? hearts away. For example:
Now, there are more than 1.02 billion people • The majority of poverty stricken nations
deprived of food and millions of people dying export food to developed countries such as
from hunger every year. So why are we not the United States, Japan, Germany,
using our talents to reinvent the tools that will France, and the United Kingdom. The
put hunger in our history books? question we should ask ourselves is, how
is that possible? Why do we continue to
Global statistics buy food from poverty stricken nations
such as China, India and Africa when they
Below are global statistics on world are not feeding their own people? And
hunger according to World Hunger Food then, we turn around and spend trillions of
Programme1: dollars in aids. These acts of kindness
• Every six seconds a child dies because of sounds like a guilty conscience, not an act
hunger and related causes; of compassion. When we buy from them,
we are just as corrupt as their governments
• The number of undernourished people in and power heads that can care less for the
the world increased by 75 million in 2007 health and wellbeing of their nations.
and 40 million in 2008, largely due to
higher food prices; • Many arguments have been made in
response to why people in both developed
• 907 million people in developing and underdeveloped countries continue to
countries alone are hungry; and go hungry. A critic will argue that there is
no way to end hunger, and it is not our
• 10.9 million children under five die in place to feed everyone. Others argue, if
developing countries each year. we keep feeding the hungry, they will
Malnutrition and hunger-related diseases become dependent.
cause 60 percent of the deaths
To some extent, some people are capable
of providing for themselves and their
families. However, many (children,
elderly, poverty stricken mothers, etc.) are
part of a group that is not capable of
providing for themselves because of the
system, laws, and regulations that are set
1 Reference: World Hunger Food Programme. Hunger Stats. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats
Simisola Atolagbe Page 1 5/18/2010

2. in place by their governments and power seek to bring and work with passionate
heads. When we turn our backs, we are individuals (students, professionals,
killing future doctors and scientists, politicians, dictators, etc) who are willing to
mothers and fathers, friends and give their time, money, and/or talents in
motivators. helping to end hunger.
The next step is to bring stakeholders—
A word to the inventors and innovators UN, general public, Feeding America, Hunger
Project, other nonprofit organizations, etc—
Unfortunately, there are going to be from every corner of the world to the table.
opponents even when an idea is clear or even During these meetings, proposals of each party
when someone is simply trying to impact the will be tabled.
world positively. However, we cannot make At these meetings, the next step will be
room for critics to continue to build road to form workable solutions. A team of
blocks. We must stand up and act for the researchers and strategists who can invent
world. The idea that it is the government’s solutions will be listening and observing the
problem and that the hungry got the wrong end discussions among the stakeholders. At this
of the stick is completely off. We have spent time of information gathering, the entire world
trillions of dollars on a problem that is still will be viewing the segment via television,
present. We must put forth solutions that will radio, and Internet, and would have the
give room for food to become a necessity opportunity to influence the discussions. The
rather than a luxury. technological world will be used to its fullest
capacity; while, accountability and
Solution: A year to end hunger transparency will dominate the face of hunger
for the sake of humanity.
Many solutions have been suggested in The fourth stage of the process will
reducing hunger. One that has often been involve fundraising for implementing the
suggested is to expand the access of food to strategies that were recommended by the
everyone. In theory, that is a wonderful idea, forum. Citizens, public and private
but without full practice, it is unattainable. In corporations, small businesses, etc will all be
order to find a feasible solution to end hunger able to contribute to the foundation that will
in our era, we have to play the game of our appropriate the funds for implementing the
era. This is where the idea of a year to end solutions that were decided upon.
hunger comes into play. The final process of ending world
For this solution to become a reality, hunger will be to implement a task force that
several steps must be taken. First, mass will head approved projects in different
communication and technology are making regions of the world. I believe that the idea—a
dramatic impact in today’s society. The idea is year to end hunger— will allow us to work
to use technology and communication in together as one being to end hunger, which
getting a practical solution once and for all. will impact every life across the world.
Visualize, the two major—Facebook and
Twitter— social media and CNN—the world’s A healthy world
most recognized and credible broadcasting
station— endorsing a forum for one (1) year With the implementation of a year to
that will find workable solution(s) to end end hunger, the world can begin fighting other
hunger. social dilemma that is being faced across our
communities and nations. But we must first
Currently on televisions and Internet, end the root cause of the disease. When a soul
there are shows that are impacting the world. is nourished, it can become a valuable member
Some are positive, while others are negative. to the society. Thus, we valuable members, we
The question is why can we not have a have healthy economy, and with a healthy
program that seeks accountability, justice, economy, we have a happy world.
transparency, and a voice for our fellow
human beings? The forum to end hunger will
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